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On April 23, 1983 eight members of the Greater Cincinnati Grotto of the National Speleological Society were trapped by high water in Precinct #11 Cave in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. What follows is a list of preparations and actions that we found to be of value during the three days we spent in the cave. This is not meant to be a complete list for all situations, but describes what helped us to remain in good physical and mental condition.
The following pretrip preparations are especially for caves that have the potential to flood. First, each person should prepare their clothing so as best to retain warmth; such as having polypropylene underwear. Wool middle clothing and any outer layer. This layering will keep you warm even when wet. The best way to fight hypothermia is to guard against it before you enter the cave. Second. you should tell people where you are going, how long your trip is supposed to take. the area of the cave you're exploring and the time you are to arrive home. Third, try to get an accurate weather report. Fourth, your pack contents should reflect a safety-conscious attitude. The following items will make a long stay in a cave more tolerable:
Two garbage bags - these can be stored in the helmet. If hypothermia becomes a possibility. punch a hole into the center of one of the bags at the top. This is then pulled over the body. Keep the hole small enough so that your head barely fits through. This will reduce the area of heat loss through the hole. The second bag should have the hole punched through the front near the top. The bag is then pulled over the head so that you are looking through the hole. Putting the helmet back on will help keep the second bag in place. With the double bag you increase your insulating dead air space.
One space blanket - when kept away from wind the infrared reflective abilities are very good when wrapped around your body. This helps retain a large portion of the body heat. It's excellent when used in conjunction with a second heat source.
Water to help avoid dehydration. You should drink even if you're not thirsty. You can drink cave water in an emergency but you may risk the danger of drinking contaminated water.
Extra food - this should be in excess of what you are planning to eat during a normal trip; that way you will have an emergency food supply on hand.
First aid kit - one per party is sufficient. This should include water purification tablets.
Candles should be #5 plumbers' candles. These are especially important as a source of heat for electric cavers.
Matches and/or lighter.
Pencil and paper used for writing rescue notes.
Cyalume light sticks - these are good for marking locations. They are not to be considered a light source.
Watch - without a watch the time trapped can seem like an eternity.
Closed cell foam pad to insulate again cold from the ground. This can be a small piece of ensolite which fits easily in any pack
Heat tab stove to warm water or food to keep body core temperature from dropping too low.
If possible (such as in a project cave), it's a good idea to have a stash of emergency supplies in a water-tight container in an easily accessible location. This should contain a lot of food, garbage bags, sterno, extra carbide, space blankets insulating material, first aid kit, etc.
If you find you are trapped by flooding (or anything else) the first thing to do is to get yourself into a survival frame of mind. At this point you're no longer cavers; but survivors, and the sooner you realize this the sooner you'll do what's necessary to survive.
You should assess the seriousness and extent of flooding. Take as much clothing off as possible to keep it dry while checking the water level. Markers should be left at the water's edge to keep a record of water fluctuations. This will help you psychologically as well as help you decide when or if self-rescue is a possibility. After this you should get to a safe haven away from wind and water, especially waterfalls. The wind from moving water will add to the chilling effects, which in turn will drain your body of precious heat. Next, take off all wet clothes and, with one person helping, wring them out. Once this is done, put the clothes back on. Leaving them In 100% humidity will do nothing toward drying them, but heat generated by your body will dry them in about 5 hours. Once these are dry they will be invaluable in keeping you warm.
After the above measures have been taken; you will have more time to prepare yourself physically and mentally for the coming ordeal. From this point on plan on being trapped for an extended period of time. If you get rescued immediately then nothing is lost, but if you treat your rations with the idea of an immediate rescue in mind, the outcome could be much worse than expected.
Begin conserving body heat from the start. If available, put garbage bags on and do as little as possible. Occasionally the bags should be turned inside out to rid the of condensation. Also try to keep two bags your neck as tight as possible, to keep heat loss at a minimum. Because the ground is an excellent heat sink, try to minimize contact with it by sitting cross legged on the insulated pad. By placing a candle or carbide light between your legs with the garbage bag extended over them - to trap heat, you can warm yourself when you get too cold. By leaning forward so that your torso is directly above the rising hot air, the process will be more efficient. Number five plumbers candles will last approximately 8-10 hours if the wax isn't allowed to escape. Remember, wax is fuel for the candle; don't waste it. Always leave your helmet on; your head is highly vascularized which allows a lot of heat to escape from there.
At some point during the beginning of your stay, inventory all available supplies and begin rationing immediately. Again, don't plan on being rescued in the immediate future. Have all extra food from people's packs put into central stores because you'll need each other as healthy as possible to survive. It amazing how little food your body needs as long as no great energy demand is made on it. Save the food for when you really need it.
Conserve light sources. If you are able to attempt a self-rescue, or are rescued, you will want to have your main source of light functional. so save your carbide and batteries. The candles will provide you with heat and light while you wait.
Leave notes in appropriate locations. This is one thing you can do to help expedite your rescue. The note should include your location and how to get there: draw a map if necessary and give as many landmarks as possible. List the conditions of your party and any medical needs including the seriousness of any problems and if possible how they can best be dealt with. Give a list of any important needs you have. The sooner the rescuers know your status the sooner they'll be able to help you.
Body huddles should be started as soon as possible. When doing the huddles, try to minimize surface areas exposed to the air and ground. The best way to do this is the "spoon" method. You should lie stomach to back with your legs directly behind the person in front of you. Put your free arm around the other person and lie as much on top of them as you can. The people on the ends should be rotated through the huddle to avoid heat loss. The people most affected by the cold should be kept away from the ends. For some people the huddle might be psychologically uncomfortable to begin with, but the sooner it starts the better off you'll be. Once in the huddle you'll want to switch sides routinely; after awhile your hips will be very sore. To alleviate pressure on the hip bones, dig a small depression into which your hip will fit but not have undue pressure exerted on it.
The hardest aspect of the situation will be maintaining a healthy mental attitude. To survive comfortably you have to keep your spirits up. This becomes more difficult when your contact with the outside world is cut off. Lying in a cave knowing you're trapped and helpless can take its toll. You can combat the frustration and depression by having faith in the system. It's just a matter of time before a full-scale rescue is mounted. You have to have faith in the people outside and convince yourself that they are out there working their tails off to get you out. From personal experience we know this to be true. When people know the situation, nothing will stop them until they have you out safe and sound.
Time will seem completely distorted while you're waiting to regain contact with the world. By having a watch you can set up sleep periods at intervals during which they would normally occur. The mind's ability to handle stress and emergency situations is diminished when natural cycles are disrupted. By staying on a "day-night" cycle, you can help ease some of the psychological stress.
During the ordeal you should also check on each other's physical and mental status. This will help mold the group into a close and cohesive unit as well as alert you to any problems before they get out of control. If a problem does develop, try to talk the person through the crisis or do whatever is necessary to control the situation.
Something that isn't life-threatening, but is potentially debilitating is "immersion foot". This occurs when contact with water causes the foot to swelL making it painful to walk You can avoid this condition by airing out your feet for 3-4 hours per day. Also, polypropylene inner socks and wool outer socks will help reduce moisture on your feet. Keep your boots off as long as possible. This allows air to circulate around your feet and gives them time to dry.
Again give the system time to work. Use your head. Don't be foolish. Be patient and have faith. It would be a shame to have yourself in a safe and secure spot only to do something rash and get yourself killed. People have died for lack of patience. Don't be one of them.
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